What does Intercultural English Conversation Partners do?
Intercultural English Conversation Partners brings international students in the Spoken English Program together with native English speakers from Ohio State University for weekly conversation practice.
How can Intercultural English Conversation Partners help you?
It provides an opportunity to …
- meet one-on-one with a regular partner
- practice spoken English to develop better fluency, pronunciation, and listening comprehension
- find out more about American culture and student life firsthand
- get to know someone who could be your future student personally
- make new friend
Who will your partner be?
- Your partner will be a person who knows Ohio State well, usually an undergraduate student (or sometimes a graduate student or university employee).
- Your partner is interested in meeting you, helping you with English practice, getting to know you, learning about your culture, and being a resource for you to learn more about American culture and student life.
What is the commitment?
- You and your partner agree to set up a meeting every week during this semester for an hour of English conversation.
- You are committing yourself to finding time to meet your partner even when your academic schedule gets very busy. Having a regular meeting time can help make this commitment a part of your normal routine.
- If you know that your schedule is going to be especially busy this semester, please consider whether you will be able to keep up with regular meetings before you sign up for a partner.
Can you choose your partner yourself?
- The Spoken English Program at Ohio State is committed to the diversity of the university. As a TA, you will come in contact with all kinds of students regardless of personal preference, and the Intercultural English Conversation Partners Program wants to reflect this diversity. We try hard to match you with a compatible partner who you can enjoy the experience with.
- Intercultural English Conversation Partners does not match partners based upon protected status, which is defined as age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, national origin, race, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Student Sign-Up
To request a conversation partner, fill out the form below:
Partners will be matched near the beginning of the semester, and we’ll send partners each other’s contact information. Contact sep-iecp@osu.edu with any questions.
